Patrick Hall
Kristen VradenburghPatrick Hall won the 39th Missionary Ridge Road Race on Saturday, just as he did the last time he ran it – five years ago.
That was the day that Georgia College and State University runner John Bruner from Dalton collapsed near the finish line and subsequently died. The race since has memorialized Bruner, and proceeds starting in 2008 have been split between the local chapter of the American Red Cross and the family-created Team Bruner scholarship fund.
Hall said Saturday that the memory of Bruner’s struggle remained “really vivid, even five years later.” Now 27, the former Chattanooga Christian and Covenant College standout has attended the Missionary Ridge race since his 2007 victory but didn’t feel ready to enter again until this year.
He took the lead early and kept it, covering the 4.7 miles out and back along the crest of the ridge from the Bragg Reservation in 25 minutes, 36 seconds. Alan Outlaw was second in 26:16, and Dean Thompson shaded Tim Ensign for third place and the masters victory, 26:49 to 27:04, with Cullom Boyd fifth in 27:10 and Andy Highlander sixth in 27:30.
Kiersten Vradenburgh was the women’s winner and 25th overall in 32:34, 17 seconds ahead of runner-up and masters winner Dianna Leun 17. Mark Lorello was the men’s grand masters victor and ninth overall in 28:52, and Rhonda Gage earned the female grand masters win in 38:43.